The blog that I am writing is after lot of thoughts on how I should write. I really have no words on how to write but I always want to write something very special about Tirumala as this is the closest temple to my heart. Tirumala is no ordinary temple. Tirumala is considered a Kali-Yuga pratyaksha davidam which means the seeable God in the age of Kali Yuga’s God whom we can say. Tirumala Shrine is dedicated to Lord Sri Venkateswara, an incarnation of Sri Maha Vishnu.
One of the globe’s largest pilgrimage destinations, the holy hill of Tirumala is, on any given day, thronged with thousands of devotees who’ve journeyed to venerate Lord Venkateshwara here, at his home. Around 60,000 pilgrims come each day, and darshan runs 24/7. Lord Venkateswara has got several names through which he is referred to. Of the innumerable names he has, the most prominent names he has are Govinda, Balaji, Edu Kondala Vadu, Venkatachalapati, Srinivasa. Many devotees read the famously known chanting called as Govinda Namalu.
Throughout times, God has taken countless names and forms to reassure that He is, and always will be there forall of us unconditionally. Some of these forms are living and breathing, while others are silent and stone-like. And among all these silent forms, none is more popular in this day and age than Sri: Venkateswara, the Majestic Lord who resides on the sacred Seven Hills in India.
Legends about the hill itself and the surrounding area appear in the Puranas, and the temple’s history may date back 2000 years. Devotees flock to Tirumala to see Venkateshwara, an avatar of Vishnu. Among the many powers attributed to Venkateshwara is the granting of any wish made at this holy site.
Sri-vaikuntha-viraktaya svami-puskarini-tate |
ramaya ramamanaya venkatesaya mangalam ||May all auspiciousness be unto Sri Venkatesa who, giving up His attachment to Sri Vaikunta, sports gracefully with Lakshmi on the banks of the Swami pushkarini. -Excerpt from the Sri Venkateswara mangalasasanam.
Sri venkateswara managalasasanams
Origin of The Lord as Sri Venkateswara
To enable men in Kali-Yuga to achieve God realization a less tedious process, that is by intense love and devotion or Bhakti, has been recommended by God himself who revealed himself as an Deity. This is known by his Archavatara. But when the deity was first discovered, the scene was not the same that we witness now. The deity is stated to have lain buried inside an ant hill or mound of earth. It is said that in a village long ago around 1st Century BC, under the kingdom of Tondaman Chakravarthi, few of the villagers noticed a huge deity under the earth. It is then that Tondaman had the mound removed and built a temple to house the deity. But the temple we see today is not the temple built by Tondaman.
The doors alone are of wood. Epigraphists assert that cut-stone architecture in South India developed after 6th Century A.D and the rock cut temples here and there were their precursors.
According to ancient scriptures, in the beginning of Kali-Yuga, Kashyapa was performing a holy sacrifice on the banks of River Ganga for the benefit of Kali-Yuga. For the sake of Loka Kalyanam, Sage Narada visited the site, and asked those sages, “O sages! Why are you performing this holy sacrifice? Who would enjoy the good fruit of this sacrifice? Who is worshiper of all the gods?” Hearing him the sages were hesitant to answer and, after some deliberation, asked sage Bhrigu to clarify.
Bhrigu first went to the world of Brahma that he may decide the truth as an eye-witness. There he saw Brahma with faces on all four sides chanting Vedic Hymns, who was served by saraswati and who was praising Narayana along with the rulers of all the quarters of the Earth. He prostrated to him and stood up. Brahma saw Brigu but said nothing. So Bhrigu thought that Brahma was ignorant and therefore not fit to be worshipped.
Then he left the world of Brahma and went to Kailasam. There he found Shiva lustfully engaged with Parvati and did not take notice of him. Parvati seeing the sage, was abashed and, informing her husband of Bhrigu’s arrival, asked him to leave her. Hearing her words, Shiva let Parvati go and In anger tried to kill the sage. But Bhrigu prevented him, cursed him and went away.
Then from thence he went to Vaikuntha to see Vishnu. There he saw Vishnu laying on the bed of sesha together with Lakshmi. Vishnu not responding to Bhrigu’s call even after multiple times was angry and kicked Vishnu on the chest.
Then Vishnu embraced him and said “O sage of sages! You have touched with your tender foot my chest hard like the diamond, but why? Your soft foot must have had a lot of pain for that. “So saying he washed the sage’s feet with water and sprinkled that water on his own head.
On account of this, he decided that Vishnu was, of all the gods, the most venerable and going back to sages, declared his decision to them in the assembly. Later Lakshmi in privacy with Vishnu said to him, “Your body is the entire universe and your chest was stuck by the sage. The place which has been my abode was touched by his foot. So, O Lord! I Leave your chest and go out to live in Karaveerapuram.
At the onset of Kali Yuga, Vishnu thinking of how and where he could pacify Lakshmi, left Sri Vaikuntha and reached Venkataadri. It is then that Lord Sri Maha Vishnu stepped onto Bhuloka as Sri Venkateswara Swamy on the hills of Tirumala and has taken the pleasure to stay on the hill until the end of Kali-Yuga.
Temple architecture & Construction
The temple of Tirumala underwent several changes, expansions along with time. Several kingdoms across the south generously developed and maintained the temple of Tirumala Sri Vari Temple. Great kingdoms like Sri Krishna Devaraya, Cholas, Pallavas during their rule have made enormous changes to the temple such as building the 1000 pillared mandapam, Ranga Mandapam, Vimana Gopuram
(Please click on the above link for it to play.)The “Temple Legend” is made out of references from a range of ancient scriptures such as Varaha Purana, Padma Purana, Garuda Purana, Brahmanda Purana, Markandeya Purana, Harivamsa Purana, Vamana Purana, Brahma Purana, Brahmottara Purana, Aditya Purana, Skanda Purana and Bhavishyottara Purana.These extracts describe the sanctity and antiquity of the deity, temple and the hills around Tirumala, besides the numerous teerthams, streams and springs that abound them.
The legends taken from the Venkatachala Mahatmya and the Varaha Purana, pertaining to the manifestation of the Lord at Tirumala, are of particular interest.
According to the Varaha Purana, Adi Varaha manifested himself on the western bank of the Swami Pushkarini (temple tank), while Vishnu in the form of Venkateswara came in to reside on the southern bank of the Swami Pushkarini.
The self manifested deity of Lord Sri Venkateshwara in tirumala shrine receives rituals of worship and offerings as per the most ancient “Vaikhanasa Agama”.
To perform abhishekam, archana (worship), naivedhyam (feeding), ooregimpu (procession), panpu seva (going to bed), vaikhanasa Agama science has allowed five kinds of deities. (Pancha Beras)
Places to visit in Tirumala & Tirupati
It is considered great fortune for anyone who pays a visit to Tirumala as it is treated as one visit Vaikuntam, the transcendental abode of God. If you’re planning on a pilgrimage to Tirumala, do ensure to visit the below mentioned places:
1. On the Tirumala (hills): Lord Sri Venkateswara Main Temple
2. One can witness the majestic Golden Gopuram(Ananda Nilayam) of Lord Venkateswara where on the right side has Vimana Venkateswara Swamy which is considered as equal as witnessing the Lord inside the inside the temple.
3. Sree Swami Pushkarani (sacred teertham): It is supposed to be originally in transcendental Vaikuntam which is brought to Earth by Garuda on Earth. This can seen beside the Sri Venkateswara temple.
4. Also, one can visit the Sri Varahaswami temple which is indeed to be seen first before witnessing Lord Sri Venkateswari.
4. Akasa Ganga (It is the sacred waterfalls at which Sage Bhageeradha did sacred penance and brought Ganges on earth. Also, these waters are used for the abhishekam(Celestial Bath) of Lord Venkateswara on every Friday.
5. Papavinasanam Punya Teertham: Another sacred waterfalls in Tirumala.
6. Sri Vari Padalu, Chakra Teertham, Sila Toranam: All of these are nearby the same place and it is said Sri Vari Padalu is the exact location where Lord Venkateswara first stepped his Lotus Feet on Earth. Sila Toranam is considered as a place where the Lord emerged out. Sila Toranam otherwise called Natual Arch of stone on on a geological note considered to be natural formation of stone as old as 2.5 million years.
In Tirupati (Down the Hills) city, do ensure to visit the below temples:
8. Govindaraja Swami Temple: Govindaraja Swamy is considered elder brother of Lord Venkateswara yet another manifestation of Lord Venkateswara where one can see Him in a reclining posture. Also, do visit Parthasaradhi with Rukmini and Satyabhama inside the temple. The temple has a attractive Gopuram(entrance tower) with many other small shrnes inside the complex.
9. Kapila Teertham (waterfalls): It is dedicated to Lord Siva (Sri Kapileswara Swami). It is said Kapila Maharshi lived here and prayed to Lord Siva.
10. Sri Kodanda Rama temple: A 10th century temple of Lord Rama, Lakshmana and Sita. It is the place where Lord Sri Ram, Lakshmana and Sita Devi stayed here during their return to Ayodhya.
11. Tiruchanur Padmavati Devi Temple or Alamelu Mangapuram: It is said to be the abode of Sri Padmavati temple who is the consort of Lord Venkateswara.
12. Srinivasa Mangapuram: It is also called Sri Kalyana Venkateswara temple. It is here Lord Sri Venkateswara stayed here around 6 months after their marriage with Goddess Padmavati before proceeding to Tirumala; It is here Sri Venkateswara becomes a sila (stone) after Mahalakshmi and Padmavati quarreled.
13. Nagalapuram Veda Narayana Temple: It is dedicated to Veda Narayana Swamy. Matsya Avatar with Sridevi and Bhudevi; killed Somaka and retrieved Vedas
14. Narayanavanam: Sri Kalyana Venkateswara; Marriage of Sri Venkateswara and Padmavati; The temple has a large Tiragali (grinding stone used for marriage) dating back to the times when Lord Venkateswara moved on earth before his Archa Vigraha form.
15. Suruttapalli: It is a temple dedicated to Lord Siva also known here as Sri Sarvamangala and Pallikondeswara Swami. It is here after consuming Halahala poison, Lord Siva rests on the lap of Parvati Devi. It is around 57 km from Tirupati.
16. Appalayagunta: Prasanna Venkateswara Swami Temple.
17. Vikrutamala Santana Venkateswara Swamy Temple: The below picture of Lord Venkateswara is from the same Vikrutamala Temple. The form of Lord who is look alike as in Tirumala.
Photographs on Tirumala
Abhishekam or Celestial Bath of Lord Venkateswara 
Bhoga Srinivasa or Kautuka Beram, the exact replicate of the main detiy(Dhruva Beram) 
Lord Venkateswara before the commencement of walk at the Alipiri Mettu 
The Golden Gopuram or Ananda Nilayam 
The Sila Toranam or Natural Arch Formation at Tirumala 
The aerial view of Tirumala Sri Venkateswara Temple. 
The naturally formed shape of Sri Venkateswara’s divine face.
The Hills of Tirumala (Video Presentation)
During one of my visit to Tirumala, I had a opportunity to take video of Vaikunta on Earth. Please do get to see this video and be amazed with the beauty of this sacred hills:
Whatever so far has been written is I believe is a minute drop in an ocean. This is just a fraction of the innumerable glories of Lord Venkatachalapati. A life isn’t really enough to know, understand and get realized of his glories and beauty. The essence of all our scriptures focuses on salvation and reaching the abode of Govinda. Human Life is the only mean to achieve this task. May Lord Govinda gives all of us His mercy & blessings to realize and surrender unto Him to serve Him eternally in Vaikunta and achieve the true purpose of Human Life. In the name of Lord Sri Hari. Om Tat Sat.
Citations & References
https://tirumalatirupatiyatra.in/tirumala
https://www.tirumala.org/
Documentary of Nat Geo’s ‘Inside Tirumala Tirupati’
Sacred Soul Diaries 
A well written article on Tirumala Kshetram. Obviously, your photographs look superb and pair very well with the writing. I am yet to visit some of the places mentioned in this article. But it’s true how just being in Tirumala is such a divine experience. Just saying “Edukondala vada, Venkataramana, Govinda Govinda !” makes us want to visit Tirumala. Thanks for sharing!
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